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| Courtesy of Universal/Warner Bros. |
An
occupational hazard of writing about movies all the time is that they rarely
surprise me. When you see enough of them, you start recognizing patterns,
formulas and templates. That’s why I’m always happy when something I see
catches me off guard. It doesn’t have to be a wholly original plot (in fact, it
rarely is); it could just be a lot of familiar elements combined in an
unexpected way.
That’s
why I was a little startled by how much fun I had watching Central
Intelligence last weekend. The action comedy starring Dwayne “The Rock”
Johnson and Kevin Hart doesn’t reinvent the buddy picture, but it does deliver a
refreshingly modern take on it. Plus, I don’t think the phenomenal chemistry
between Johnson and Hart could’ve been any more endearing.
The
story begins twenty years ago, when Calvin Joyner (Hart) and Robbie Weirdick (Johnson)
were both high school seniors. (Side note: this movie will be strange for local
residents to process considering the protagonists go to Central High and their
colors are black and gold. I heard lots of chuckles when I saw it opening
weekend.) Calvin is the most popular kid in school, while Robbie is bullied
nonstop because of his weight and quirky personality.
These
starkly different kids meet for the first time in a heartbreaking sequence:
bullies pull Robbie from the locker room shower and throw him – naked and
humiliated – into the middle of a massive pep rally. While the rest of the
students laugh, Calvin takes off his jacket so Robbie can cover up. It’s a
kindhearted gesture that reveals a great deal about both characters and has big
ramifications later on.
Fast-forward
two decades, and we discover Calvin married his high school sweetheart (Danielle
Nicolet) and is living a comfortable life as an accountant. Plenty of people
would be jealous of his success, but the upcoming class reunion is contributing
to his inferiority complex. Will his old friends be disappointed that he’s not a
movie star or a hall-of-fame athlete?
That’s
when he gets an invite for drinks from a former classmate named Bob Stone (more
chuckles from the local crowd). Turns out it’s Robbie Weirdick, who shed his
easily mocked surname and gained about 200 pounds of muscle. He’s much more
confident now – he has no qualms about rocking a unicorn T-shirt and a fanny pack
– and wants to thank Calvin for sticking up for him all those years ago.
Oh,
and he’s also a rogue CIA operative who needs Calvin’s accounting skills to
help him catch a terrorist who’s framing him. What follows is an extremely
reluctant Calvin following Robbie into battle, getting the excitement he wished
for in the most dangerous way possible.
The
primary reason to see Central Intelligence is to witness Johnson’s insane
charisma at work. I’m a big fan of the actor because, even though not all of
his movies are winners (far from it), he’s always passionately committed to his
work in them. He makes some bold choices here that other actors might shy away
from, but that’s precisely why the movie’s so fun. It’s his best performance
since Michael Bay’s bonkers Pain & Gain.
Hart
is amusing as well, leaning on the same skills that led to his incredible
success. If his tried-and-true shtick isn’t your thing, his performance in Central
Intelligence isn’t going to convert you. But those who like him will
appreciate a more emotional center than his characters usually have.
The duo
is supported by a shockingly strong ensemble, including Nicolet as Calvin’s uber-patient
wife and Amy Ryan (incredible, as always) as the CIA agent tasked with bringing
Robbie in. Plus, there are several fun cameos from actors like Aaron Paul, Jason
Bateman, Kumail Nanjiani and a stunner that I wouldn’t dream of spoiling.
Director
Rawson Marshall Thurber (who co-wrote the screenplay with Ike Barinholtz and
David Stassen) competently stages the film’s many action sequences, but they’re
not exactly jaw-dropping. Shoddy CGI explosions always bug me and there are
plenty of them here. Still, I imagine Thurber knew going in that action wouldn’t
be the audience’s top priority.
Again, Central Intelligence doesn’t add anything groundbreaking to the genre, but it’s
two hours of fun that will play endlessly on cable and probably spawn a sequel.
In baseball terms, it’s a solid double.
Central
Intelligence is rated PG-13 for crude and suggestive humor, some nudity,
action violence and brief strong language.
Grade:
B
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